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BJP MLA writes to PM on agriculture scenario of West Odisha

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BHUBANESWAR: Padampur BJP MLA Pradip Purohit on Wednesday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apprise him on agriculture scenario and problems of farmers of western Odisha.

He mentioned in the letter that farmers pay more than Rs 50 per a bag of urea, a major fertilizer, than the actual rate Rs 298 per bag set by the central government. "I knew this after meeting farmers of Bolangir, Bargarh, Kalahandi and Nuapada. Farmers are taken for a ride by the businessmen," he added.

He said the BT Cotton is banned in the state, but the farmers purchase it from the traders because the state government can't provide them the seeds.

The traders don't give receipts and take higher price from the farmers. Government rate of a packet of BT-I cotton seeds and BT-II cotton seeds is Rs 650 and Rs 820 respectively. But the traders take no less than Rs 1050 per a packet of BT cotton seeds, he added.

"Because the traders don't give purchase invoice on the banned product, it is creating problems for farmers to avail the insurance facility. Without insurance coverage and erratic rainfall in the state during previous years, they are bearing heavy losses after crop failure and losing livelihood," said Purohit in the letter.

The legislator also mentioned about lack of irrigation facility in his area. He requested to help the farmers under Jalanidhi programme.

He criticized the state government for not responding to his queries on these issues of farmers of western Odisha and not doing anything to solve these issues. "I request the Prime Minister to look into the matter and help to make the livelihood of our farmers a sustainable one," he added.